Two Children Hospitalized After Consuming Hallucinogenic Mushroom Chocolate During Family Vacation

Two young children, aged five and six, were rushed to the pediatric emergency department at Galilee Medical Center after exhibiting severely dilated pupils and hallucinations. The symptoms appeared following their consumption of chocolate containing hallucinogenic mushrooms during a family vacation. Upon arrival, initial assessments showed the children were stable in terms of respiratory and cardiac function but displayed neurological symptoms. Consultation with the National Poison Information Center raised suspicion of poisoning from Psilocybe or Panaeolus mushrooms, known to contain active compounds that can induce hallucinations, increase blood pressure, and in severe cases cause seizures and cardiac damage. Due to the risk of further symptom development, both children were admitted for close monitoring and observation in the pediatric intensive care unit.